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*It sure has been a while since I was last here, but hey, there's no time like the present to start again, right?

I have something pretty big to share with you all! Souk Safar (@souksafar) by Boodai Aviation, in collaboration with Atlantis, The Palm, has a really awesome campaign running at the moment.

Starting January 3rd until the 5th (Saturday), Souk Safar have set up a display in the space in front of The Cheesecake Factory. I passed by today afternoon and was met by all the festivities planned by Souk Safar and Atlantis. There are lots of upgrades, free gifts and activities for the kids. Upgrades include add-ons like buffet lunches and dinners at the Saffron and Kaleidoscope Restaurants, access to the Imperial Club, snorkeling in the Ambassador Lagoon, access to the Shark Safari, treatments at the ShuiQi Spa, etc when you book one of the amazing Atlantis packages on offer.

I have to add that the rooms and suites at Atlantis, The Palm have been recently refurbished and the new interiors look fantastic! Just loving the clean and fresh vibes, who wouldn't want to relax here?

Guests at Atlantis also have complimentary unlimited access to the Aquaventure Park. If you're an adrenaline junkie, I recommend Poseidon's Revenge. It literally takes your breath away! The Leap of Faith comes in at a very close second. There are so many water slides and a separate area for the children too, something for everyone! I learned that there have been a lot of new rides added to Aquaventure, including a Wave House that has a wave machine to surf till your heart's desire, a restaurant, bar and even a bowling alley. Looks like I'll need to make another trip soon.

Do visit the kiosk for more information or visit the Souk Safar store. Wondering exactly where they're located? They're on the first floor of the Avenues Mall, just above the back entrance to Victoria's Secret. This is where Iconic used to be located and is on the same line as North Face, if that helps.

Souk Safar is also running a contest at the moment. What's up for grabs? A trip to Atlantis, The Palm for the whole family! Just take a photo with the Atlantis mascots, follow @souksafar and DM (direct message) them the photo on Instagram.

So, head on down to Souk Safar at the Avenues and explore these amazing packages. You wouldn't want to miss this!

I'm sure we've all seen vans and minibuses with the City Van logo emblazoned on the side driving around Kuwait. I just assumed they were transporting staff and never really thought that they were for the public. But a call from the lovely Marketing Manager over at City Van set me straight. Did you know that City Van offers some pretty amazing services to the public? Neither did I, hence this post.

They have 3 very convenient and competitively priced services to choose from. The laws here in Kuwait are constantly changing regarding just which expats are privileged enough to drive (let me not get started on the latest ruling regarding engineers, sigh). Unfortunately in Kuwait, being allowed to drive doesn't depend solely on capability, but rather what you decided to major in University, your job position, your salary and of course, how much vasta you have in many cases. I'm not exaggerating when I say that services like what City Van has to offer are a Godsend. So, what exactly are these services?

Scheduled Rides: these are your point A to B rides. Just enter from, to, date, time and the number of passengers and you're good to go. Convenient, no standing stranded on the road in the 50 plus degree weather and no haggling with rude drivers. I've lost count of the number of times I've stood on the road praying a taxi would drive past. And just how many girls' day or night outs have gone awry because of transportation issues? These rides are affordable too. A scheduled ride with City Van from Salmiya to the Airport is under 6KD for example.

Pool Rides: use these rides to get to work on time. They're booked on a monthly basis, both one and two ways. Could it get any more convenient? Definitely the most easiest and stress free way to get to work. No more negotiating traffic, just sit back and relax or catch up on some Zzzzzzs.

Rentals: special day planned ahead for the entire family? Or maybe you're entertaining visiting business associates? You can rent a van for as little as an hour or even up to a few days (though these are processed as special requests). You will also be provided with a driver who will take you anywhere your heart desires. Not bad right?

And if you weren't already impressed, City Van can accommodate any group size! You also have the option of booking their premium rides which I got the chance to experience for myself over the Eid holidays. We had the use of one of their Hyundai H1 vans, complete with our very own driver for the day. Now, don't get me wrong, I love driving! But it was just so relaxing to tell someone else where to go and to just chill and enjoy the ride for once.

My friends and I planned a small girls' day out and set our starting location as Fahaheel. Our driver, Mr. Gokula picked up my friend right on time and then from there, Mr Gokula and our City Van premium ride made its way from house to house picking the entire gang up. The seats could be swiveled around so that we were all facing each other, which just added to our excitement. The van was very comfortable, the air conditioning just perfect and we spent our ride belting out tunes. probably a little off key too. To be honest, we could have spent our entire day in that van and come out feeling on top of the world!

Our first stop were the Kuwait beaches where we jet skied! I'd never been before, but it was an exhilarating experience just being out on the water. The wind in my hair, going neck-breaking speeds with nothing but the ocean in front of me! We caught the sunset and then moved onto the next stop in our itinerary.

Every step of the way, our driver was just a phone call away. He was always ready and waiting to take us to each stop. He was courteous, friendly and we were very comfortable with him. A very safe driver too, not once did he exceed the speed limit!

Our day finally ended with dinner and of course sheesha. It was an amazing day, made even more special by our City Van premium ride.

Having experienced the service for myself, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend City Van over and over again. Download the app and have a browse through the features using the following link: City Van App. I'll have a coupon code for you all shortly that you can use while trying out the City Van services for yourself. So keep checking back in for that. If you've used the service, let me know your experience below. Here's links to City Van's social media pages for more info: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityvankw/

This post has been in the works for a few weeks now. I love the shorter Ramadan hours, but squeezing in a whole day's work into 4 hours is just crazy!

I received an invite to enjoy lunch at the newly opened Burger & Lobster branch in the City just before Ramadan. For those out of the loop, their branch at the Avenues closed down at the end of last year and this new location opened up a few months ago. Now, the last time I'd been to Burger & Lobster was a few months after they'd first opened shop here in Kuwait, which was a good 2 years ago (click to read my review).

Back then, they had a simpler menu with just three items on it, a burger, a lobster roll and of course a lobster (which could be either grilled or steamed). You could order them individually or experience all three in a combo which also included dessert. Fast forward two years and their menu has since expanded quite considerably with various twists on the burgers, rolls and the famous whole lobster along with a host of different starters, sides and desserts. Everything looked so good and it was a case of deciding just how much I could squeeze into my stomach. Having pictures on the tablet sure helped! You know how much I love seeing what I'm going to order.

Don't you just love all the red accents? The exposed ducts and bare light bulbs just add to the rawness factor.

For drinks (KD 2.250 each) we had the Passion Fruit Ginger Mojito which was the perfect accompaniment to all the seafood we devoured. The combination of mint, lime, ginger and passion fruit really hit the spot! We also ordered the Very Berry which was unfortunately a little diluted for my taste. It contained a mix of blackberries, strawberries and raspberries along with a cocktail of other juices which all sounds great on paper, however it just fell short and needed a little acidity to lift the drink.

For starters, the Lobster and Prawn TNT (KD 3.5) came highly recommend and I can see why! Tempura coated prawns and lobster meat tossed in Burger & Lobster's signature hot sauce, topped with sesame seeds and scallions. Yum! The tempura was beautifully crispy and the hot sauce added a nice kick without being too overpowering.

Can't go to Burger & Lobster without ordering the whole lobster right? It was a tossup between the Original and the Thermidor. Since I'd already tried the original the last time around, we went for the Thermidor (KD 14). This is described on the menu as succulent whole lobster cooked in a creamy herb mushroom sauce, gratinated with parmesan and cheddar cheese. The lobster came served with a toasted garlic brioche and a side salad. That's a lot of food and is probably best shared between two. Between the Thermidor and the Original, I think I favour the original, absolutely nothing can beat that lemon and herb garlic butter sauce, but this was an amazing dish. I really enjoyed the creaminess of the mushroom sauce and that lobster had just been cooked so perfectly. Each mouthful was heavenly.

Finally we went for a roll. After that monstrosity of a lobster, we had very little room left, but we couldn't bring ourselves to leave this off our order. There were four rolls to choose from (three lobster rolls and one braised beef roll). I love spicy twists on food so it was an easy choice to go with the Spicy Roll (KD 6). The spicy roll contained both lobster and prawns tossed through a herb chili mayo. The chili mayo added a gorgeous creaminess to the cold meat, set off beautifully by the toasted brioche. An amazing combination! The roll also contained cucumbers which added a nice crunch and texture. We also ordered a side of French Fries (KD 1) to go with it.

For dessert we were swayed by the photo of the french toast. The same beautiful brioche which we were obsessed with, served with a generous pistachio crust and topped with fresh cream and berries. And it didn't end there! Cutting into the brioche revealed a silky vanilla custard. It was the perfect end to our meal leaving us with a food high. For the most amazing fresh lobster and a truckload of other amazing choices, visit Burger & Lobster! You won't be disappointed, just make sure you leave room for dessert.

We had lunch at Backyard over the weekend and just loved our meal there. They have two branches, one at the Argan Square in Shuwaikh, which after looking at Mark's photos over on his blog (248am.com) looks absolutely beautiful! The second is at the Argan Square in Salmiya, which is just a stone's throw from the Symphony Mall. They're located in the same complex where the new Arabica branch is supposed to open up shortly. I also spotted a WH Smith, Scoop-a-cone, Ubon and a Diet Center with plenty more to open soon so that's exciting. Parking is a bit a of a pain mind you. Leave home with plenty of time to circle the parking lot a few dozen times. I seriously will never understand how and why complexes come up without having to submit plans for sufficient parking, but that's a rant for another day.

I loved the minimalist interiors, grey walls, colourful furniture and quirky wall hangings. The place had a casual and fun vibe about it.

Though we'd dined (lunched?) at around 1 pm, we were told that we could choose from the breakfast menu as well as they served breakfast till 2 pm. The menu had great options on it and from the descriptions, there were so many that caught my eye.

Though not on the menu, our server said that he could make a Margarita Pizza for the kids which they happily devoured. It was a decent size, had a lovely thin crust with a generous amount of cheese. The kids couldn't have been happier.

For appetizers we ordered the Portobello Croquette (KD 1.550). The description sounded lovely, breaded and deep fried portobello mushrooms, yum! Delicious dish and well seasoned, but I was a little put off by the fact that the mushrooms had been blitzed. I was expecting whole mushrooms and by blitzing them, they had lost some of that fabulous mushroom flavour. Beautifully presented though.

For our mains we chose from the Chef's Choice page. When there's a page dedicated to their best dishes, how can you not right? And so we had the Swiss Butter Tabla Beef (KD 7.750) which was just heavenly and easily the dish of the day for us. The tenderloin was juicy and it was served with a gorgeous sauce containing roasted garlic and herbs. Just delicious! I may have mopped up all that left over sauce with the bread we'd been served. The dish also came with a simple Caesar salad and a choice of either roasted potatoes or french fries. A fantastic dish and a definite must order! They also make salmon and chicken versions of this dish too.

We also had the Grilled Beef Lomo (KD 7.650) which reminded me of the Gaucho Grill steaks. (Bring Gaucho back please!) Both are Argentinian so I get the similarities. The tenderloin was marinated with garlic (I love my garlic!), herbs and olive oil and then carefully seared to perfection. Again, juicy and perfectly cooked. It was served with a side of broccoli and potato gratin. If you love your meats, this is another must order. Mimi approved for sure.

For drinks, my eye fell on the Pure Passion and the Spicy Mango Mint (KD 1.950 each). The pure passion wasn't at all as I'd expected. It was too sweet and syrupy and I was happy to have the kids attack it on my behalf. It would be great if the drink had passion fruit seeds in it at least in stead of just being a drink made straight up with syrup. The spicy mango mint however was right up my alley. Mango and mint with a dash of tobasco - three flavours which I would never have pitted together, but they worked really well, loved it!

They say a meal is never complete without dessert and so even though we were stuffed at this point, we had the Chocolate Fondant (KD 2.250). The chocolate lava cake had been overcooked and so the lava was unfortunately MIA, but combined with the cool ice cream and crispy tuile, it was a very satisfying end to an amazing meal.

The menu at Backyard has so many exciting dishes on it, there is definitely something for everyone! They're also on Carriage (click here!).

Calicut Live opened about 3 months ago in Salmiya and since then, all I've heard have been recommendations after recommendations about how I need to try it out. Calicut, or Kozhikode, is in Kerala (my home state) after all and so I rallied up the gang and went out for dinner over the weekend. I let my friends who had been before do all the ordering and just braced myself for all the dishes that came flying out of the kitchen. We were a small group and so ended up ordering multiples of a lot of the dishes, feed the masses they say!

I'd heard that the restaurant had been serving Chukku Kaapi (Kerala style dry ginger coffee) as their welcome drink, but to my disappointment, we were just served regular fruit juice. I'm hoping they bring the ginger coffee back.

First up, the kids had the Sweet Corn Chicken Soup (KD 1.250) hence the lack of a photo. I did have a small spoonful and it was good, but it could've been creamier. The kids loved it though.

I'd heard from several friends that the appetizers in Calicut were exceptional and on asking the waiter, he recommended either the Kanthari Fish (KD 3.000) or the Chicken. We tried the fish and it was exactly as I'd thought it would be, delicious! Large chunks of fish filet, carefully marinated and delicately cooked. Kanthari, or rather bird's eye chili is a small red chili that is rather potent! But despite being a dish named after a chili, it wasn't overly spicy. The heat was well balanced and the dish was just enjoyable. I'd love to try the Chicken next time as I've been told that it is just as good, maybe even a tad better!

Next up were the Tawa Grilled Prawns (KD 3.000). On paper this was supposed to be a good dish. Prawns in shell with an aromatic masala paste? Yum! I loved the flavours, but the masala was just too raw and left a powdery grit like feeling on the tongue. I think the masala just needed a few more minutes in a hot pan to cook it through. Had a chance to speak to the manager about the dish afterwards so I'm hoping they'll work on it. It truly had the makings of a great dish.

Oh the Beef Ularthiyathu (KD 2.000) is a must order. Slow roasted with spices, coconut slices, curry leaves, it screams Kerala and will go excellently with porotta or even appam. If you're a fan of the traditional Kerala style beef, this is for you. Calicut Live makes great wheat porotta too if you're interested!

Next up, we ordered the Mutton Bamboo Biriyani (KD 2.500). We ordered this mainly for the drama of it all, steamed biriyani in a bamboo log? Why not! Our waiter knocked twice on the bamboo log (Log, trunk? I'm not quite sure what to call it) and then pushed the steaming contents out onto our plates. The process of steaming the rice in the bamboo locks in moisture and flavour. Loved the biriyani and the novel way in which it was cooked and served. A definite must order.

We also ordered the Mutton Kadai (KD 2.500) pictured above and the Achayan Chicken Curry (KD 1.800) shown below. Both were forgettable dishes that I probably wouldn't recommend to anyone. I would love to try other dishes on the menu over these two.

For drinks, we had the Passion Fruit Monchathi (KD 1.250). Ask for the drinks to be split into two and they'll be served in a vase like below. Delicious, nothing to complain about. We contemplated ordering another round!

Other drinks to try are the Koolikatha Sharbath and if you can handle the heat, the Green Fire, which is a sweet and spicy chili infused drink. The Golden Fried Prawns also sounded delicious and they're on my list for next time along with the Kanthari Chicken of course!

Calicut Live is located in the Anfal complex, the same building that houses Nasser Sports and Twenty4 in Salmiya. Also, check out their menu below. (It isn't their full menu though. I pieced it together from images sent to me via Whatsapp and it looks like I'm missing a few pages). Our meal for 7 adults and 2 kids came up to just under 35 KD. That's ridiculously cheap for the amount of food we ordered - a soup, a biriyani, 9 sides, porottas and drinks! Calicut Live, give them a try the next time you're in the mood for some authentic Kerala cuisine.